| What is a "Green Building?" |
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Well, A Green Building is energy efficient, uses materials from sustainable sources and is designed with spaces and overhangs oriented toward the appropriate sun exposure. There are many benefits to incorporating Green building concepts into the design. The building will last longer, enhance indoor air quality and conserve natural resources.
Extreme adherence to Green Building measures is not commonly practiced in the construction industry, rather an approach toward voluntary compliance is encouraged by the local planning departments. Alameda County Waste Authority is promoting Green Building in their effort to comply with State Law requiring a reduction in solid waste entering landfills. Some local Towns and Cities currently require a recycling plan for construction debris, Energy Star appliances, and conservation of water for landscape irrigation.
It is ironic that we currently incorporate some of the "Green" methods into our projects to increase efficiency and improve the performance because it is simply good design.
Green building features should be carefully considered to fit well with standard components and common building practices. Green Building methods offer benefits for occupants including enhanced indoor air quality, energy efficiency, healthier and comfortable environment. The quality of construction is improved by incorporating products that preform better than the conventional products they replace. The issue of air quality and health are closely related and improvement in indoor air quality is necessary to compensate for newer buildings with lower infiltration rates. As buildings become increasingly air tight, concerns about the health effects of volatile finishes and chemicals used in wood products can be addressed by minimizing the use of hazardous chemicals in building materials and improving the indoor and building ventilation systems.
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Specific Green Building Measures.
- Recycle job site waste.
- Drip Irrigation.
- Incorporate Permeable Paving.
- Drought tolerant water efficient landscaping design.
- Natural cooling through landscape design.
- Provide onsite water catchment/storage for landscape watering.
- Substitute Flyash (byproduct of coal burning power plants) for a portion of Portland cement used in concrete.
- Use Aluminum concrete forms or reuse form boards.
- Utilize Engineered Lumber.
- Use Lumber certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, which is wood from a forest managed in a socially and environmentally responsible way, while protecting old growth forests.
- Use reclaimed lumber.
- Use treated wood without Arsenic or chromium for sill plates, exposed posts or site furnishings. Treated alternatives are alkaline Copper Quatenary and Wolman Natural Select.
- Reduce pollutants like formaldehyde in cabinets, carcinogenic adhesives, and volatile paints and varnishes.
- Use recycled content siding or fiber-cement siding.
- Insulate hot and cold water pipes.
- Install circulating pump on conventional tank type water heater loop pipped system..
- Install flow reducers in faucets and showers. Install Chlorine filter on shower head.
- Install instantaneous (tank-less) water heater. Instantaneous water heaters are on demand or flash heaters save energy compared with conventional tank type storage heaters .
- Plumb grey water diversion system to a holding tank for irrigation watering.
- Plumb for solar water pre heating system.
- Install water filtration.
- Install compact fluorescent light bulbs.
- Install insulation-cover (IC) recessed lighting fixtures.
- Install lighting controls using sensors and timers for use during times when lighting is not needed. (Except in bathrooms and showers)
- Install Ceiling fans to circulate air in volume ceiling areas and reduce the need for heating and air conditioning.
- Use Energy Star (registered) appliances like front loaded clothes washer, dishwasher, refrigerator, and freezer.
- Select light color roofing. (This may conflict with the need to provide darker roofs to reduce local climatic effects and Planning department requirements which reduce visibility.)
- Install safe and durable concrete and metal roofing material. Metal roofing is desirable for water catchment and storage for landscape irrigation.
- Exceed insulation requirements.
- Use formaldehyde free fiberglass insulation, sprayed cellulose with non toxic binders fo walls and Dry blown loose fill cellulose in ceilings.
- Install energy efficient windows with double panes Low-Emissivity (low-E) with low conductivity frames.
- Use Duct mastic and tape on duct joint. Clean ducts.
- Install ductwork within conditioned space were possible.
- Install exhaust fans to remove seam, gases, smoke byproducts resulting from cooking, laundry and showers.
- Install attic ventilation systems, whole house fan, Ridge vents.
- Install smart HVAC system which uses filtered outside air to balance indoor air temperatures.
- Install high efficiency air conditioner (13-17 SEER), multi zoned system with non-CFC refrigerants.
- Install 90% efficiency, multi zoned system, forced air gas furnace.
- Install heat recovery heat exchanger in cold climates.
- Ventilate the garage with 1/2 square foot of vent area per automobile space.
- Incorporate passive solar design elements, skylights, covered porches, overhangs, tile floors, and tile or masonry fireplaces, for thermal mass. Orient building to respond to the local climate.
- Incorporate indoor swimming pool for comfortable use throughout the year. Indoor pools save energy during heating periods over out door swimming pools.
- Use fiber optic lighting in pools. Fiber optic lighting offers subtle effect and efficiency.
- Install Photo voltaic solar energy panels.
- Install Hydronic radiant in-floor heating system and boiler.
- Install natural Linoleum over Vinyl Flooring. Unlike vinyl, linoleum is made from natural materials like, linseed oil from flax seed, sand stone, cork, wood and jute.
- Install recycled content carpet (made from recycled plastic bottles) and underlayment and padding.
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| A Link to the Sustainable Buildings Industry Council (SBIC) | |
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